I don't know how many times I've tried to lose weight and have either been unsuccessful or have not maintained the results. My first weight gain was when I relocated to a different city my freshman year after finallyy making friends (we moved around sooo much!!). My mother believes it was depression. I didn't do anything but go to school, come home, eat, take a nap, eat dinner, and go to bed. This was my daily routine. This added 40 pounds instantly. By the summer of that year, I was weighing ...

I don't know how many times I've tried to lose weight and have either been unsuccessful or have not maintained the results. My first weight gain was when I relocated to a different city my freshman year after finallyy making friends (we moved around sooo much!!). My mother believes it was depression. I didn't do anything but go to school, come home, eat, take a nap, eat dinner, and go to bed. This was my daily routine. This added 40 pounds instantly. By the summer of that year, I was weighing in at 160. By the next year, I was back down to 125 because of my involvement in cheerleading and track. However, like alot of people, I still was not eating properly. Fast food was all I ate, and engorging in all the unhealthy foods my grandmother consistantly prepared. I know my weight has been something that I've been insecure about for quite some time!! I've always been the girl that was bigger than my friends, off and on. I hate going out and I can look around at everyone else, and they look so beautiful, and I look at myself at times and get disgusted (the real reason I don't go out... My confidence has depleated since I've gained weight)! Alot has gone into play with the reason why I focus so much on my weight. I had a boyfriend who broke up with me once and told me the only way we'd get back together is if I lose weight (crushed). All he used to talk about was my weight, saying things like 'I don't want a fat wife' and always trying to tell me it was soo easy to lose weight, and that I just wasn't trying. I've had a friend(s) who've called me fat. I've had family members talk about my weight. I overheard my grandmother once say "I don't know why she's not as skinny as ****, she's just so big!). And I (was) definatly an emotional eater. As a result, I've tried numerous fads, (including that horrible maple syrup diet, and I knew better than that) but nothing was able to steer me in the correct direction. Then I stumbled across Sparkpeople... Soo, here I am again, trying to break the mold and lose my weight for good... Added motive: summer's right around the corner (I want to be bikini ready), as well as my birthday (maybe I'll look and feel better about myself by then)... I'm more confident now because I've gained so much knowledge over the years. Having a weightlifting class, working at Bally Total fitness for a second, reading the Eat Clean Diet (which I read in two days because it was soo freaking interesting), Body-for-LIFE, and all other resources definatly have given me added insight. Now alot of my friends come to me for advice on working out and eating tips... Now, I just need to help myself, so lets go D~Lo!!

**09/09/09- OMG, I went to the Arnold Classic two days this weekend, and let me just say that I'm so inspired by these people!! There were sooo many beautiful healthy bodys walking around, it was kind of intimidating... However, it just makes me want to go harder. Maybe next year I can be at on eof the stands!!! I think I will be focused now more than ever!! I even met Tosca Reno, and she was the sweetest person ever!! She gave me tips on what to do to get into shape and how to try to be in their magazine, we took pictures and she signed my Eat Clean Diet book!!! Thanks a million, Tosca, we shall meet again!!! I also met Lindsey Massina (Oxygen model and compettitor, and one of the sweetest people ever) and Amber Elizabeth (also a Oxygen model, and beautiful model overall) and it wsa just an amazing experience!! I ran into Jenny Hendershott and her Get PHAT crew at a stand (which I'm thinking about attending Phat camp in Dayton, OH in September). I also saw Alicia Marie and Jennifer Nicole Lee, and just seeing all these people in shape and muscles EVERYWHERE I'm inspired. Ms JENNINCAT (Sparkpeople's own) is also another big inspiration to me as well as many other sparkers!!! Ater this weekends events, I'm even more motivated to not make as many mistakes as I have in th past!! I feel like my will is much stronger, and this is finally my time to get my butt in gear!!

Sooo, what I've decided is just to keep alternating my at home workout collection, between Body for LIFE, Turbo Jam, 30 Day Shred, Winning by Losing, and soon to be chaLEAN Extreme (and maybe even 10 minute trainer). I figure this way, I can keep changing things up so my body doesn't get 'bored'. Plus I just started a new job that gives me access to a gym for only $5 a month... You CANNOT beat that!!!! I will keep posting results and blogs as the weeks/ days go by, so stay tuned fellow Sparkers!!!

***My quotes to live by during this journey and afterwards:

'Failing to plan is planning to fail...' -Author Unknown

'Nothing taste better than looking good.' -Author Unknown

'When man has had a hand in the manufacture of food, chances are it it junk.' Tosca Reno

'If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.' -St. Clement of Alexandra

'Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.' -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

'Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving.' -Dennis Waitley

'To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.' -Shakespeare

'Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.' - Brian Tracy, Eat that Frog

'Never leave that 'til tomorrow which you can do today.' - Benjamin Franklin

My goals Overall include: ~get into shape ~lose weight ~gain muscle ~to be able to run without tiring ~build endurance ~BE HAPPY and HEALTHY As far as my weight goes, I don't know how much I want to lose for sure. The reason I say that is because you can set a goal, and STILL not be happy with how you look... 113 may be too small for me... but I am only 4'11"... So we'll see how my body transforms, and how I'I' feel about it!!! watch my journey! Pics coming VERY soon!

My Program:
Currently, I am doing the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels, and also doing Turbo Jam to get that cardio going. However, I am still following the concepts of Body-for-LIFE! I'm going to be doing 30 Day Shred 6 days a week, as well as running a minimum of one mile. These two things I will be doing until 10/31/08. *When November starts, I will be doing Turbo Jam, with Pilates and the BFL principles. I will still be running, maybe by then I will increase up to 2 miles. *When December starts I will begin the Biggest Winner Series and ending that January 31, 2008.

Personal Information:
I'm born and raised in Ohio. I am currently going to school for cosmetology and will be done in 2010. After that I may try to get my personal training certification, still not sure. But I would like to go to school to become a registered nurse!

... Just stopped by to say "HI"... ... I wanted to ask you how you got to attend the Arnold Classic and where was it held?

You are doing great and making steady progress... another dvd that a recommended to me is:

10 days to a Better Body... it has 2 complete workouts,one for the upper body and one for lower body... (each workout consist of 26 separate intervals, 13 cardio and 13 strength)... ... The workouts are 30 minutes each and alternate between 1 minute of cardio and 1 minute strength training. It is a really great dvd... gets a lot done in a short amount of time, when you are in a crunch for time and is deceptively challenging... As you get stronger you can increase weights as needed, as long as your form is good... When you have time, you can combine the 2 workouts for an hour... great ab/core segment too... You can preview it here: